List of Namibians

This is a list of Namibians who are famous.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Artists

Visual artists

• Dieter Aschenborn, wildlife painter and designer of postal stamps
• Hans Aschenborn, wildlife painter and illustrator
• Uli Aschenborn, wildlife painter and sculptor
• Margaret Courtney-Clarke, documentary photographer
• Koos van Ellinckhuijzen (1942–2016), painter, designer of postal stamps and graphic designer
• Tony Figueira (1959–2017), photographer
• Joel Haikali, film director
• Oshosheni Hiveluah, film director and writer
• Tim Huebschle, film director and screenwriter
• Adolph Jentsch, painter
• Perivi Katjavivi, film director
• Helga Kohl, photographer
• Nicky Marais, painter
• Cecil Moller, film director
• Kerry McNamara (1940–2017), architect
• John Muafangejo (1943–1987), woodcutter and linocutter
• Richard Pakleppa, film director and screenwriter
• Bridget Pickering, film producer
• Wilhelm Sander (1860–1930), architect
• Max Siedentopf, artist

Literary artists

• Joseph Diescho (born 1955), novelist
• Dorian Haarhoff, poet
• Mvula ya Nangolo, journalist and poet
• Sylvia Schlettwein, literary critic and short story author
• Christi Warner, performance poet, playwright

Performing artists

• Nǃxau ǂToma, bush farmer and actor
• Atushe, Kizomba singer
• Beate Baumgartner, pop singer
• Sally Boss Madam, musician, songwriter
• D-Naff, rapper
• The Dogg, musician, songwriter
• EES, rapper
• Exit, musician
• Gal Level, musician
• Gazza, musician, songwriter
• Jericho, rapper
• Big Ben Kandukira, guitarist
• Jackson Kaujeua, singer
• Stefan Ludik, musician
• Lady May, musician, dancer
• Riana Nel, singer-songwriter
• Nianell, musician
• Franja du Plessis, pop singer, actress
• Juanita du Plessis, country singer
• Quido, rapper
• Ras Sheehama, singer
• Stella, pop singer
• Sunny Boy, rapper, lyricist, songwriter
• TeQuila, singer
• Top Cheri, singer
• Tre Van Die Kasie, kwaito singer
• Shishani Vranckx (born 1987), singer
• Christi Warner, singer, television presenter

Businesspeople

• Tom Alweendo, Head of the National Planning Commission
• Tangeni Amupadhi, editor of The Namibian
• Johnny Doeseb, owner of Eleven Arrows F.C. in Walvis Bay
• Johannes ǃGawaxab, governor of the Bank of Namibia
• Monica Geingos, First Lady and owner of Stimulus Investments and many other companies
• Benjamin Hauwanga, owner of the BH Group of companies
• Frans Indongo, owner of Indongo Toyota, continental properties.
• Gert Joubert, owner of Erindi Game Reserve
• Robert Kahimise, CEO of the City of Windhoek
• Gwen Lister, journalist, founder of The Namibian
• Aaron Mushimba, mining magnate
• Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, African Business Leader of the Year, 2013
• Harold Pupkewitz, owner of Pupkewitz Toyota, Megabuild, and many other companies
• Iipumbu Shiimi, minister of finance, former governor of the Bank of Namibia
• Sven Thieme, chairman of Ohlthaver & List
• Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi, managing director of diamond conglomerate Namdeb

Clergy

• Leonard Auala (1908–1983), Christian bishop of Evangelical-Lutheran Ovambo-Kavango Church (ELOC)
• Shekutaamba Nambala, presiding bishop of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN)
• Joseph Gotthardt (1880–1963), prefect of the Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia, later bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Windhoek
• Paulus Hamutenya (died 1932), pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
• Bonifatius Haushiku (1932–2002), archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Windhoek
• Obadja Iihuhua, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
• Sakeus Iihuhua, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
• Gideon Iitula, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
• Zephania Kameeta (born 1945), former bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia
• James Kauluma, sixth bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Namibia
• Nabot Manasse, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
• Leevi Gerson Max (1935–1997), pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1965
• Ngeno Nakamhela (born 1945), former secretary-general of the Council of Churches in Namibia
• Juuso Ngaikukwete, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
• Matias Shikondomboro, pastor in Okavango, ordained 1942
• Simson Shituwa, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925

Military leaders

Colonial period

• Kaipkire (18th century), female Herero warrior
• Jacob Morenga (1875–1907), guerrilla fighter, national hero

People's Liberation Army of Namibia personnel

• Tobias Hainyeko (1932–1967), commander of the South West Africa Liberation Army (SWALA), predecessor of PLAN, 1962–1967
• Lieutenant General Dimo Hamaambo (1932–2002), commander of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) 1967–1990 and chief of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) 1990–2000

Namibian Defence Force personnel

• Major General Matheus Alueendo (born 1961), Namibian Army commander since 2019
• Rear Admiral Alweendo Amungulu, (born 1963), Namibian Navy commander since 2020
• Lieutenant General Solomon Huwala, chief of the NDF 2000–2006
• Lieutenant General John Mutwa (1960–2021), chief of the NDF 2013–2020
• Major General Peter Nambundunga (1947–2019), Namibian Army commander 2005–2011
• Major General Charles Namoloh (born 1950), NDF Chief of Staff
• Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah (born 1952), chief of the NDF 2011–2013
• Air Marshal Martin Pinehas (born 1962), chief of the NDF since 2020
• Air Vice Marshall Teofilus Shaende, Namibian Air Force commander since 2020
• Lieutenant General Martin Shalli (born 1954), chief of the NDF 2006–2011

Politicians

Presidents and leaders of government

• Sam Nujoma (SWAPO), first president of Namibia
• Hifikepunye Pohamba (SWAPO), second president
• Hage Geingob (SWAPO), first prime minister of Namibia and third president
• Nangolo Mbumba (SWAPO), second vice-president and fourth president

• Nickey Iyambo (SWAPO), first vice-president of Namibia

• Theo-Ben Gurirab, second prime minister of Namibia
• Nahas Angula (SWAPO), third prime minister
• Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila (SWAPO), fourth prime minister

• Hendrik Witbooi (politician) (SWAPO), first deputy-prime minister of Namibia
• Libertina Amathila (SWAPO), second deputy-prime minister
• Marco Hausiku (SWAPO), third deputy-prime minister
• Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (SWAPO), fourth deputy-prime minister

Diplomats

• Eddie Amkongo (SWAPO), former ambassador to Ethiopia
• Martin Andjaba (SWAPO), ambassador to Germany
• Bience Gawanas (SWAPO), African Union Labour Affairs Commissioner
• Neville Gertze (born 1966, SWAPO), ambassador to the United Nations
• Kaire Mbuende (SWAPO), former ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg
• Margaret Mensah-Williams (SWAPO), ambassador to the United States
• Monica Nashandi (SWAPO), former ambassador to the United States
• Hanno Rumpf (1958–2019, SWAPO), former ambassador to the Benelux countries, Switzerland and the European Union
• Nora Schimming-Chase (SWANU, CoD), former ambassador to Germany and Austria

SWAPO politicians

• Ben Amathila, cabinet member
• Clara Bohitile, deputy minister, central committee member
• Dawid Boois, former governor of ǁKaras
• Bernard Esau, trade unionist, independence activist
• Ida Jimmy, national hero, independence activist, central committee member
• Ella Kamanya, Pan-African parliamentarian and National Assembly member
• Asser Kuveri Kapere, chairman of the National Council of Namibia
• Marten Kapewasha, diplomat
• Samuel Mbambo, central committee member
• Steve Mogotsi, National Council member
• Alpheus ǃNaruseb, cabinet member
• Immanuel Ngatjizeko, cabinet member
• Erkki Nghimtina, cabinet member
• Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, lawyer and cabinet member
• Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, former minister, independence leader
• Piet van der Walt, deputy minister
• Peya Mushelenga, member of parliament

Opposition politicians

• Kenneth Abrahams (NNF), medical doctor
• Ottilie Abrahams (NNF), activist, teacher and educator
• Steve Bezuidenhout (RDP)
• Moses Katjiuongua (NPF)
• Katuutire Kaura, (PDM)
• Fanuel Kozonguizi, (SWANU), first national ombudsman
• Dirk Mudge (RP), pre-independence leader of government
• Jeremia Nambinga, (RDP)
• Ben Ulenga (CoD)

Traditional leaders

• Justus ǁGaroëb (born 1942), Damara chief and politician
• Hosea Kutako (1870–1970), liberation fighter and Herero chief, national hero
• Samuel Maharero (1856–1923), Herero chief, national hero
• Daniel Sitentu Mpasi (1934–2014), king of the Kwangali
• Nehale Mpingana (died 1908), king of Ondonga, national hero
• Mandume ya Ndemufayo (1894–1917), king of the Kwanyama, national hero
• Martha Nelumbu (born 1930), queen of the Kwanyama
• Kahimemua Nguvauva (1850–1896), chief of the Ovambanderu, national hero
• Iipumbu Ya Tshilongo (1875–1959), king of the Uukwambi, national hero
• Hendrik Witbooi (c. 1830–1905), chief of the ǀKhowesin, national hero

Activists

• Job Amupanda, youth activist who started the Affirmative Repositioning movement
• Niko Bessinger, independence activist and politician
• Pauline Dempers, human rights activist, coordinator of the Breaking the Wall of Silence movement
• Kalla Gertze, former president of the Breaking the Wall of Silence movement and CoD politician
• Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari, political columnist
• Evilastus Kaaronda, trade unionist
• George Kambala, youth activist
• Veronica de Klerk, women's rights activist
• John Kwedhi, trade unionist
• Blythe Loutit, founder of Save the Rhino Trust
• Anna Mungunda (1932–1959), anti-apartheid activists, national hero
• Rosa Namises, politician and women's rights activist, former member of parliament
• Phil ya Nangoloh, human rights activist
• Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, youth activist
• John Pandeni, former trade unionist and member of cabinet
• Immanuel Shifidi, guerrilla fighter
• Emma Tuahepa, HIV/AIDS activist

Scientists

• Roman Grynberg, professor of economics, University of Namibia (UNAM)
• Nico Horn, theologian and professor of human rights and constitutional law, UNAM
• André du Pisani (born (1949), professor of political science at UNAM
• Gabi Schneider (born (1956), geologist
• Tjama Tjivikua (born 1958), founding rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia

Sportspeople

• Gaby Ahrens (born 1981), Olympic trap shooter
• Collin Benjamin (born 1978), footballer
• Johanna Benson (born 1990), Paralympic athlete and medalist
• Jacques Burger (born 1981), rugby union player
• Dan Craven (born 1983), cyclist
• Merlin Diamond (born 1991), sprinter, national champion
• Trevor Dodds (born 1959), golfer
• Frankie Fredericks (born 1967), Olympic athlete and medalist
• Prince ǃGaoseb (born 1998), rugby union player for the Tel Aviv Heat
• Mannie Heymans (born 1971), cyclist
• Max Katjijeko (born 1995), rugby union player for the Tel Aviv Heat
• Kees Lensing (born 1978), rugby union prop
• Ricardo Mannetti (born 1975), footballer and national football coach
• Beatrice Masilingi (born 2003), Olympic athlete, U20 world champion
• Athiel Mbaha (born 1971), deaf footballer
• Christine Mboma (born 2003), Olympic athlete
• Ali Nuumbembe (born 1978), welterweight boxer
• Ryan Nyambe (born 1997), footballer
• Harry Simon (born 1978), boxer
• Razundara Tjikuzu (born 1979), footballer

Other

• Christina Van-Dunem Da Fonsech, police officer
• Michelle McLean, former Miss Universe, charity activist
• Behati Prinsloo, model
• Robbie Savage, football fan and socialite
• Hulda Shipanga, matron